Cheap, Easy DIY Remedies or Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is one of the dreaded problems that almost all parents face at some point or another. Because of the expense associated with most commercial diaper ointments and creams, these rashes can sometimes seem as painful to the parents as they are to the baby!

Fortunately for those on a tight budget, remedies for diaper rash don't have to cost a fortune. Many effective treatments for diaper rashes may already be stocked in your pantry or medicine cabinet--and you may not even know it.

The following are examples of effective products that can be used to treat diaper rashes, without the fuss or the expense of pricey ointments and creams.

Plain Yogurt

Believe it or not, whole-milk unsweetened yogurt is a very useful treatment for diaper rashes resulting from candida (yeast) infections. If your baby's rash has little red or white splotches, it's likely that the rash is yeast-related. Yogurt contains the live, active culture acidophilus, which is a form of "friendly" bacteria that helps to fight off yeast.

To use yogurt to treat a diape rash, simply warm two teaspoons of it between your fingertips and apply it directly to the rash. This can work nearly instantly to kill the yeast that it causing your baby's rash. You could also go to the doctor to get an expensive prescription for an anti-fungal medication, but who wants the hassle (and the side effects), when a treatment is available at home, for a fraction of the price?

Corn Starch

If you are certain that the diaper rash is not caused by yeast and there are no splotches of white or red on the baby's bottom, corn starch is a great at-home, natural treatment for diaper rash. Only use corn starch if it is a chemical-burn type of diaper rash (bright red)--do not use corn starch if your child's rash is caused by yeast, since corn starch might "feed" the infection.

Corn starch is a much safter diaper powder than talc, because talc can easily be inhaled, and corn starch is less of a risk. Simply shake or wipe the starch directly on to your child's bottom, and the starch will help to absorb the moisture when your little one wets or soils a diaper. Be careful not to get the starch near the baby's nose.

As a treatment, corn starch works best when reapplied with every change. This will help to absorb the moisture and ammonia in urine, which may be contributing to your little one's rash.

Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly, better known by the brand name Vaseline, is a by-product of the petroleum industry. It gets a bad rap within natural parenting communities because of its inorganic origins, but it is carefully refined to clear it of any potentially harmful toxins. It's also earth-friendly in its own way, becaues it is reusing an industrial by-product that might otherwise go to waste.

Petroleum jelly can be used with either yeast or non-yeast diaper rashes. Slather it liberally onto your baby's skin for a layer of protection. It will seal out the ammonia in your child's urine, and keep it from burning your baby's sensitive skin. Because it works so effectively as a protectant, you may find that it works wonders as a night-time treatment.

Because petroleum jelly is a by-product, it is very inexpensive compared to other diaper ointments. You can take heart in knowing that it is as safe and effective as its more expensive counterparts.

Regardless of which route of treatment you are using, take your child to the doctor if the rash is still present after seven days of treatment. If there are blisters or pus present, make an appointment without delay--this could be a sign of a more serious infection requiring antibiotics or antifungals.